Should Eagles Consider Parting with LB DeMeco Ryans in 2015 Offseason?

Lost in the shuffle between glaring holes in the secondary and profound questions under center is the fact that the Philadelphia Eagles have needs all over the roster.

The offensive line is only getting older. Who will rush the passer opposite Connor Barwin? What does the future hold for feature offensive weapons such as LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin?

None of that even touches on defensive leader DeMeco Ryans. If you’re a regular reader of this column, you probably know what comes next. Ryans will be 31 this year, is entering the final season of his contract and is a questionable fit as an every-down linebacker in a 3-4 defense to begin with. Oh, and he’s coming off of his second career Achilles injury, which means nobody knows if and when he’ll be ready to play in 2015.

It would’ve been fair to ask whether the Eagles would bring Ryans back had he not gone down. Now we are essentially forced to wonder.

YR	TKL	SK	INT	FF
2014 (8 GMS)	45	0.0	1	0
2013	127	4.0	2	0
2012	113	1.0	1	0

What is Ryans’ timetable, realistically? Is he back for training camp? Will the two-time Pro Bowler be able to suit up for opening day? If he spends the first six-to-however-many-weeks on the physically unable to perform list, will Ryans eventually be able to return and contribute at a high level as a midseason addition to the roster?

We know what Chip Kelly would do, or at least what he would like to anyway, and in case you haven’t heard, the head coach has final say over all personnel decisions these days. But Kelly hates hypotheticals, so even one of Ryans’ biggest fans had to acknowledge it’s not that simple, as he admitted to Reuben Frank for CSNPhilly.com.

“We need DeMeco, I'm a big DeMeco fan,” Kelly said. “As a group, he really sets the tone for everybody on the defense side of the ball.  So it's just a matter of getting DeMeco healthy again.”

Ryans’ health is the biggest uncertainty, although his salary certainly isn’t helping matters, either. The $6.9 million he’s owed for ’15, according to Spotrac, would’ve been a hefty sum before a second Achilles injury and uncertain recovery—especially considering dumping the contract wouldn’t result in any dead money against the salary cap.

Then again, the problem is and always has been the question of who replaces Ryans.

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

A cursory glance at the potential free-agent market doesn’t reveal any easy answers, and the draft is always a crapshoot. Mychal Kendricks holds down one spot in the middle, but the Birds start two.

The Eagles aren’t as devoid of talent at the position as it would appear. Things looked worse than they were because Najee Goode, an up-and-coming reserve who was poised for a bigger role in ’14, suffered a season-ending injury of his own in Week 1. Travis Long, originally an outside linebacker, was learning the ropes on the interior during training camp before he was knocked out for the year as well.

Is it a stretch to think either Goode or Long could be a potential replacement?

Perhaps, but let’s not forget that Casey Matthews—2011 fourth-round pick and longtime whipping boy of the Philly fanbase—filled in quite well this past season. Emmanuel Acho, a journeyman/practice-squad type, pitched in as well, with occasional appearances from rookie Marcus Smith, another outside backer by trade.

Was it the ideal setup? Not at all. Was it a serious issue for the Eagles? Didn’t often appear to be.

That’s not to say the club should just up and dump Ryans first thing tomorrow. However, surely such a move isn’t beyond consideration at some point.

Unless the Eagles really want that $6.9 million—and unless a blockbuster offseason is in the works, they shouldn’t require it—there’s no real reason not to see where Ryans is come training camp. He’ll almost definitely be the defense’s best option for opening day, if he’s ready, and even if he spends some time on the PUP list and joins the team after Week 6, that might be for the best.

The one thing the Eagles can’t afford, though, is to rely on Ryans’ recovery and, in the process, cling to that salary. If it gets to be August and it’s apparent Ryans isn’t ready, a difficult decision will likely need to be made.